Leafs Trade Kapanen to Penguins
The @Toronto Maple Leafs have traded winger @Kasperi Kapanen to the @Pittsburgh Penguins.
About seven hours before puck-drop between the @Boston Bruins and @Tampa Bay Lightning, two surprise exits from the qualifying round were busy setting up their future.
The Maple Leafs have sent Kapanen along with @Pontus Aberg and @Jesper Lindgren to the Penguins in exchange for the No.15 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, @Evan Rodrigues, @Filip Hallander and David Warsofsky.
Toronto was without a first-round pick in 2020 after sending it to the @Carolina Hurricanes in the @Patrick Marleau trade last summer. This deal gets them back on the clock in the first-round and frees up cap-space. Kapanen has two years left on his contract that carries a $3.2 million cap-hit (per PuckPedia).
If you remember, Kapanen was originally drafted No.22 overall by the Penguins back in 2014 but never appeared in a game with Pittsburgh. Kapanen was the key part in the trade that sent @Phil Kessel to the Penguins back in 2015. In 2019-20, Kapanen scored 13 goals with 23 assists (36 points) in 69 games.
The rest of the Trade:
To PIT:
- – Lindgren was a fourth-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2015. Had nine points (1G / 8A) in 31 games with the Toronto Marlies in 2020.
– Aberg signed with Toronto last summer and spent most of the 2020 season in the AHL, scoring 20 goals with 24 assists (44 points) in 55 games.
To TOR:
- – Rodrigues was traded to Pittsburgh in February as a part of the @Conor Sheary / @Dominik Kahun trade. He had six goals and four assists (10 points) in 45 games between Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He is a pending restricted free agent.
– Hallander was a second-round pick of the Penguins in 2018. The 6-foot, 190 lbs. centre had five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 27 games with Lulea HF of the Swedish Elite League in 2020.
– Warsofsky has one year left at $700K and spent all of 2020 in the AHL, where he led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen in points with 33 (10G / 23A) in 51 games.
What Twitter is saying:
The #LetsGoPens acquired Kasperi Kapanen, Jesper Lindgren, Pontus Aberg from #LeafsForever for Evan Rodrigues, Filip Hallander, David Warsofsky & 2020 1st Round Pick (15th overall). Trade Summary & full player details: puckpedia.com/trade/259
Kasperi Kapanen (traded to Pittsburgh) is a good third-liner.
I’m all for trying to get Crosby and Malkin roster help while they’re still good but the Penguins just gave the Leafs 4 assets (pick, prospect, useful player, cap space) for a player everyone knew they wanted to move
Rutherford: "Kasperi is a good, young player that brings speed to our lineup and plays the way we want to play. Having previously drafted him, we know him as a player and feel he can improve our top-6." -MC
With this year's draft being as deep as it is, I don't think it's a stretch saying whoever is selected at 15th overall will end up being the best player in today's Leafs-Penguins trade.
Toronto really likes Hållander. Smart, competitive player. Early option to sign Rodrigues if there’s a deal to be made. They pick up a much needed 1st round pick and shave $3.2 million in cap space. Impressive trade.
The thing about cap “problems” is that they’re not really problems when the league values the players on your books.
Past 14 months Rutherford has made 9 NHL trades: Maatta for Kahun and a 5th. Kessel, Birks, 4th for Galchenyuk and Joseph. 6th for Marino Gubranson for Martinsen and 7th. Galchenyuk, Addison, 1st for Zucker. Blandisi for Varone 3rd for Marleau Kahun for Sheary/Rodrigues And below
Details for Penguins: RW Kasperi Kapanen D Jesper Lindgren LW Pontus Aberg Maples Leafs getting: 2020 Rd 1 pick (15 overall) LW Evan Rodrigues C Filip Hallander D David Warsofsky #Pens | @TheAthleticPGH | @TheAthleticNHL please forgive any type
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